On Feb. 24, 1941, nearly 400 men from across Aroostook County, along with hundreds more from across Maine, were inducted into federal service as part of the 152nd Field Artillery Regiment in anticipation of possible wartime duty.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Neal Genz, retired member of the Maine National Guard and former member of the 152nd Field Artillery B Battery, recently watched the 90-minute DVD which shows video recordings from 1934-41 of 152nd FA members during annual training sessions. This DVD will be available on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Caribou Historical Society during the final day of the 152nd FA exhibit, sponsored by members of the 152nd FA Association.
In recognition of the 70th anniversary of the federalization, the 152nd Field Artillery Association has been sponsoring an exhibit at the Caribou Historical Society’s Museum each Saturday of this month. This Saturday, Feb. 26, will be the final day of this historic exhibit that features photographs of individuals who served with the 152nd FA, documents, field artillery artifacts; newspaper articles and scrapbooks all relating the story of the artillery regiment which was formed in 1922.
A special highlight of Saturday’s exhibit will be the availability of a 90-minute DVD that features AT (Annual Training) clips from 1934 through 1941. This DVD is available in return for a small donation to the 152nd Field Artillery Association.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
A gunner’s quadrant used to verify the elevation of the cannon tube.
Formed in 1922 in Aroostook County, as part of the Maine National Guard, elements of the 152nd FA regiment fought in both the Pacific and European theaters of WWII. Other participation included several overseas deployments since Sept. 11, 2001. The regiment was deactivated in 2008.
The 152nd Field Artillery Regiment consisted of a Regimental HQ in Bangor; the 1st Battalion in Aroostook County and the 2nd Battalion in the greater Bangor area. They, along with another Maine National Guard unit, the 103rd Regimental Combat Team, both part of the 43rd Infantry Division, mobilized for what was supposed to be one year of training and shipped out to Camp Blanding, Florida a few weeks later — when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor the following December, they were extended “for the duration.”
Army reorganization plans a year later resulted in the break-up of the 152nd Regiment, with the 1st Battalion being renamed the 203rd Field Artillery Battalion, the 2nd Battalion being renamed the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion, and the Regimental HQ becoming the 203rd Field Artillery Group HQ.
In 1922, the 152nd Field Artillery was federalized and Capt. Samuel W. Collins was elected the first commander of the local B Battery.
The new 152nd battalion stayed with the 43rd Infantry Division and went on to fight in the Pacific Theater. The 203rd battalion went to Europe, hitting Normandy and Utah beaches in June, 1944 and fighting across the European Theater. The 203rd Group fought in the Battle of the Bulge with Patton’s Third Army.
Members of the 152nd Field Artillery Association invite everyone to visit the Caribou Historical Society on Saturday, Feb. 26, to speak with the members of the group; peruse the photographs and perhaps assist them in identifying some of the soldiers from years gone by.
The museum is located at 1033 Presque Isle Road in Caribou. The exhibit may be viewed from noon until 4 p.m.
For more information regarding the 152nd Field Artillery Association go to 152ndfieldartilleryassociation.org or e-mail 152ndfieldartilleryassociation@gmail.com.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Below: WWII artifacts on exhibit at the Caribou Historical Society, sponsored by the 152nd Field Artillery Association include this weapons charge. Saturday, Feb. 26, will be the final day of this exhibit. Museum hours are from noon to 4 p.m.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
This newspaper, dated Feb. 23, 1944, is just one of many news clippings that are part of the 152nd FA Association’s exhibit available for perusing on Saturday, Feb. 26, from noon to 4 p.m.
This field telephone set is one of the many WWII military artifacts on display at the Caribou Historical Society, as part of the exhibit sponsored by the 152nd Field Artillery Association.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Members of the 152nd Field Artillery Association have a large number of photographs on display at the Caribou Historical Society in hopes local residents will stop by and help identify some of those in the photos. Feb. 26 is the final day of the exhibit.
If anyone is able to help the 152nd Field Artillery Association identify any or all of these WWII officers, they are encouraged to view the photo at the Caribou Historical Society on Saturday, Feb. 26, from noon to 4 p.m. The museum is located on U.S. Route1, south of Caribou.
